Removing nerve bundles on one side

Good luck on your Monday surgery, try to enjoy this weekend. We look forward to hearing back from you on the other side. We are here for you brother.

David in SC

One nerve bundled spared in 1995. Partial erection. Never regained full erection sufficient for penetration. Edex (alprostadil for injection) has worked its miracle for me/us for the last decade. Perfect erection for 45 minutes! (Oral meds did not work for me.) The injections restored the JOY of sex to our marriage! Don't despair! Best wishes for a return to normal erections after a sucessful operation. Al

I had the left nerve bundle removed and the right bundle spared. My understanding is having one bundle spared simply REDUCES the odds of achieving an erection and could make the healing process longer, but does not ELIMINATE this ability!! I now am able to achieve a usable erection with Viagra and a vacuum pump. However, I've been showing improvement over the past couple months getting "natural" erections. Nothing "natural" usable yet, but I can tell it is changing and getting better.

The key is to be patient. My doc said it could take up to 18 months, I'm currently just over 8 months post-surgery. Also, you need to consistently work on "rehabilitation" including stimulation, taking oral meds, and using the pump. You don't want to atrophy and need to keep the blood flowing down there to aid in healing. Of course, wait until your doc gives you the "go ahead" post-surgery before messing with any of this.

Keep in mind the top priority should be to get rid of the cancer, followed by regaining continence, and then conquering ED. As someone once said on this forum, "I would rather be a living steer than a dying bull" (or something like that!!).

Best of luck and get well soon!!

Thanks KW. I hope the same.

Old67,
Dr. Fagin did my surgery May 19th last year - I am 8 + months out from it. Neither of my nerve bundles were spared. My diagnosis was severe enough that he was concerned to be sure there were no positive margins. This is the number 1 goal. He called it "cutting a wider path" but also said it is never all or nothing. He further treated me beyond the surgery with the drugs (Viagra etc.) as anyone with the hope of recovery.

I am using Cialis and Trimix with some success. Even better, I have recently had some activity (although not sufficient yet) down south with just the Cialis - this means to me that even without total nerve sparing I may someday recover to pre-surgery form. The bottom line for me is that I would do the same thing all over again. I have great confidence in Dr. Fagin and believe if you are going the surgery route you are in the best of hands.

You will find the hospital there very professional, and I think you will be amazed at how quickly and relatively easy your stay. I personally had minimal pain, was up that night walking around, and although they did have me on drugs so that I was sleepy my considerable family almost had a party in the room that night.

If you read that book they give out and that is on the website you will know everything you should do - they really have the routine down. If you have any questions let me know. I remember well the path you are taking with the liguid etc.. All of it will pass quickly. I wish you well!

Good point, Kcragman, be sure to ask your dr about ditropan for the spasms. Cheap drug, works great, if you need it, you will be thankful to have it, if not, cost about 8$ tops at Walmart as a generic

Hi old67

My gleason scores were just like yours, a 8 and 9. I had the open surgery on May 21, 2008. Was dry at exactly 8 weeks. Had the right side nerves spared. The oral meds weren't working so the doctor switched me to Caverject and Edex injections. Both of which worked extremely well, 4 hour erections but with the alprostadil pain. Now I'm on the lowest dose of Trimix which also works very well.

In the last month, I switched to Levitra which has also started working. I also obtained it from AllDayChemist and found that their pills worked better than ones here in the states.

old67,

29 days post-op here. Both nerve bundles were spared, but sorry to say no erections yet just some lengthening at night while asleep. I discover this if I get up to urinate during the night. Keeping the fingers crossed.

Hey, good luck to you tomorrow. Will be thinking about you and looking forward to a report when you feel up to it.

old67,
My very best to you, brother, on your op tommorow. As you go for that, we will be waiting for you on the other side. My your surgeon have exceptional skill. By the time you get back, I will have the results of my first post surgery psa, so I hope to have good news to give you.

At this point, my only advice, is to trust.

David in SC